Bullet handling apparatus



May 15, 194-5.

R. W. VERGOBBI BULLET HANDLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 21, 1945 May 15, 1945. R. w. VERGOBBI 2,376,293

I BULLET HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 21, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l NV EN TOR.

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[-2 TTOR/VEV May 15, 194-5. R. w. VERGOBBI 2376,2915

' BULLET HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 21, 1943 3 sh t -sheet 3 J H 5 2 q lz ilnwnni:

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Patented May 15, 1945 BULLET HANDLING APPARATUS Robert William Vergobbi, Quincy, Mass, assignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation,

Limited,

Quincy, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Original applicationJanuary 21, 1943, Serial No. 473,092. Divided and this application December 15, 1943, Serial No. 514,405

9 Claims.

This invention relates to bullet handling apparatus.

The invention has for an object to provide novel and improved bullet handling apparatus which is adapted to release bullets from a bulk supply thereof, in which they are haphazardly or indisbinations of parts hereinafter described and 'particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention,'Fig. 1' is a side elevation of apparatus for feeding and arrangingbula lets embodying the present invention; Fig; 2 is a side elevation in cross section of the bullet supply hopper and withdrawing mechanism to be referred to; Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan View, partly in cross section, as viewed from the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation in cross section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 5 of a detail to be referred to;*and Fig. 5 is 'a view in cross section taken on the'line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The present invention contemplates apparatus for feedin elongated; conical or tapered articles, such as bullets, from abulk supply thereof to ar range them in end to end relationship without discrimination as to the direction in which the bullets point. In practice, the bullets thusarranged are conveyed in a plurality of elongated rows for presentation to an orienting device arranged to cause the bullets to assume ap-osition in which they all point in the same direction whereby to facilitate the packing thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, which as above stated illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, l0 represents ahopper into which a bulk supply of the bullets are deposited. The

hopper is provided with a sloping bottom plate l4 operator to observe the, progress of the bullets as they pass into the releasing mechanism I8 and to render the mechanismeasily accessible.

The bullet feeding or releasing mechanism l8 as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a plurality of pairs of opposed semi-spherically grooved or channeled wheels 24, 26, each pair having their peripheral edges in substantially contiguous engagement so that the semi-spherical or concave grooves 28 of each pair of wheels @0- operate to form a substantially circular opening 30 at the point of tangency through which a bullet may pass in a longitudinal direction. The opposed wheels 24, '26 are mounted upon shafts 32,34 respectively which are journaled in suitable bearings in side frames 36, 38, the latter forming the sidewalls of the hopper as shown. The side frames 36, 38 are mounted upon the platen 40 of the machine frame which is in turn supported upon legs'42.

Provision is made for rotating the opposed wheels 24, 26 and, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the shafts 32, 34 are geared together to be simultaneously driven in opposed directions by gears 44, 4B. The shaft 34 is provided at one end with a sprocket 48 which is connected by a chain 50 to a sprocket 52, see Fig. 1, fast on adrive shaft 54 which may be driven through connections from the motor 56 as will be hereinafter described. It will be observed that the sprocket 48 is loosely mounted on the shaft 34 and is arranged to-drive the wheels 24, 26 through a spring-pressed friction clutch unit indicated at 58 which is capable of slipping to prevent damage to the operating parts in the event of a jam; Provision is also preferablymade for adjusting the shaft 36 axially with relation to the shaft 34 in order to accurately position the opposed wheels with relation to each other and, as herein shown, the shaft 32 is journaled in slide blocks '60 capable of being adjusted in slide bearings 64 by threaded hand wheels 66 and rods 68. Stop screws '10 provided in the ends of the slide bearings serveto limit the forward movementof the slide blocks so as to present the wheels 24in cooperative engagement with the wheels 26.

As indicated by the arrows in Fig 2, the opposed grooved wheels 24, ,26 are rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the bullets therebetween so as to tend to lift the mass of bullets upwardly and to keep them in motion until they assume a vertical position in alignment with the circular openings 30 whereupon such bullets fall through the openings by gravity. In order to assist the bullets toassume the proper position to enable them to fall through the openings 30 in a longitudinal direction, provision is made for agitating and guiding the mass of bullets during the rotation of the wheels 24, 26. As herein shown, eccentric members 12, I3 are provided between alternate wheels of each group or set of wheels 24, 26 and as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the eccentric members I2 mounted between alternate wheels of one set, 26, pass between spaces I4 formed between the opposing set 26. Each eccentric member I2 is provided with a plurality of high points, herein shown as three, and successive eccentric members are also preferably set back'or fanned out with relation to each other around the circum-' ference of the wheels, as clearly illustrated in.

Fig. 2, so that in operation, as successive high points of the eccentrics rotate upwardly through the mass of bullets, they operate to progressively agitate the mass and tend to lift those bullets which are horizontally disposed in in the hopper to cause them to assume a substantially vertical position. Thus, in operation, those bullets adjacent the openings 30 which are-in a substantially vertical position are free to fall by gravity through such openings to be separated from the mass of bullets in the hopper. The second group of eccentric members I3 are similarly disposed between the alternate Wheels of the set 26 mounted on the shaft 34 except that the members I3 are disposed between different alternate wheels to enable them to pass between the spaces formed between the opposing set of wheels 24 as clearly shown in Fig. 3. All of the wheels, and the eccentrics disposed therebetween are adjustably mounted with relation to each other, being held in assembled relation by elongated bolts 1'6 which pass through slotted openings I8 formed in the wheels and the eccentrics as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. With this construction it wi1l be seen that in the operation of the machine, the eccentrics act as combs or rakes to comb through the mass of bullets and to guide them into the grooves 28 in a longitudinal position so that they may pass in the grooves 28 of one set 'of wheels 24. In operation, the spring members 80 yieldingly press against and gently raise those bullets which approach the opening 30 in animproper position so as to enable them tobecome agitated with the mass until they assume a Vertical position. For

example, if two bullets coming down: opposed grooves 28 meet above the opening 30 so that further progress is impeded, the spring member 80 will effect separation thereof, lifting one upwardly and permitting the remaining bullet to fall through. Also, in the event that a pair of bullets should become hooked together by the grooved portions adjacent their firing ends, the gentle raisingmovernent effected by the springs to will tend to yieldingly lift the pair .upwardly to enable them to become disengaged in the mass, thus avoiding blocking of the opening 30- and clearing a path for subsequent properly positioned bullets to fall through.

From the description thus far it will be observed that the present feeding or releasing mechanism is operative to release elongated cylindrical objects such as bullets, either of the tapered or conical form or those bullets which are of During their travel down the plate the bullets are supported laterally between the grooves or channels 28 of their respective wheels 26. The bullets thus being fed in their axially aligned position slide onto their individual belts 82 upon which they are carried forwardly end to end in single file but without discrimination as to which end of a bullet comprises the forward end.

As herein shown, the guide plate 84 is attached to a supporting bracket 86 provided with arms 88 mounted on studs 90, 92 extending from the side frames 36, 38 respectively. The bracket 86 is retained in operative position'with respect to the wheels 26 by an arm 94 connected at one end to a lug 96 at the rear of the bracket 86 and connected at its other end to a stud 98 journaled .in a bearing bracket I00 attached to theplaten 40. With this construction it will be seen that no relative movement of the parts is permitted when assembled in operative position, as shown. However, provision is made for quickly and easily moving the guide plate out of its operative position in the event of a jam. As herein illustrated, the stud 98 is detachably retained in the bracket I00 by a curved spring member I02 which is mounted to yieldingly press intoa groove I03 formed in the stud 98 so as to prevent withdrawal thereof. In operation, the set of wheels 24 is first moved back out of the way by turning the hand wheels 66 and then by manually pressing the spring I02 out of the groove I03, the stud 98 may be withdrawn. The arm 94 is thus released so that the supporting bracket 86 may be rocked backwardly on its pivots 90, 92 out of its operative position.

As clearly shown in Fig. 5, the upper portion of the guide plate 84 is shaped in the form of a plurality of fingers I04 having slots I06 formed therein for the the passage of the bent wire spring members 80, the spaces I08 between the fingers I04 providing clearance for the eccentric disks I2, I3. The plate supporting bracket 86- is also provided with slots for passage of the eccentric disks as are the front wall I I4 of the hopper and the bottom plate I4, as shown in Fig. 2.

The individual belts 82 upon which the bullets are carried forwardly in single file and arranged end to end, run over pulleys IIG, H8 and across a guide plate I20 supported upon brackets I22 attached to the platen 40. The idler pulley H6 is carried on a shaft I24 supported between arms I26 of a bracket I28 depending from the underside of the guide plate I20, and may be provided with groovedportions I30, as shown, to permit passage of the eccentric'disks 13 therethrough. The driven pulley II8 ismounted fast upon the drive shaft 54 and is formed integrally with the orienting device, indicated generally at I32. For the purposes of the present invention it is believed suflicient to state that the orienting device comprises a plurality of spaced circular disks I34 between which the'individual bullets are received asrzc gea and-carried up to permit. them to swing around so that each bullet will point dwnwardly.-

The bullets are guided on the belts 32-between rails I36 upstanding from the guide plate 1-20 whichmay and preferably will be provided with a transparent top or cover L38 whereby to enable the progress of the bullets to be observed and to enclose the guideways to prevent foreign matter. from entering therein.

As above stated, the machine. may be. driven. through connections. from a motor 56 and, as shown herein, the motor is connected by a. belt 250. to a clutch pulleyZEZ-mounted ona shaft 254 and which is. arrangedv to be engaged and disengagedin driving relation to the shaft 254 by connection including a clutch handle-256. as clearly shownin Fig. 1. The shaft 254 is connectedbya gear train, indicated generally at 260, to a shaft. 212. The shaft 212. is connectedto the hopper drive shaft 54 by a chain and'sprocket connection 216, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the operation of the machine it will be observed that the bullets in the supply hopper II] are selectively released therefrom by the releasing mechanism [8 to present the bullets in 1ongitudinal rows, end to end, on the belts 82 without discrimination as to whether the bullets point forwardly or backwardly. The lines of bullets thus being advanced on the continuously moving belts 82 are presentedtothe orienting device above referred to by which the bullets are caused to assume a position in which they all extend in the same direction whereby to facilitate the packing thereof.

From the above description it will be observed that the present apparatus is particularly u adapted for handling elongated tapered articles such as bullets in a simple and expeditious manner to cause them to assume a uniform and compact arrangement to facilitate the packing thereof.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 473,092, filed January 21, 1943.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a bullet handling machine, in combination, a supply hopper for containing a bulk supply of the bullets, and means associated therewith for continuously releasing successive bullets therefrom end to end in the direction of their longitudinal axis, said releasing means including a pair of circumferentially grooved wheels having their peripheral edges in tangential engagement cooperating to form openings through which the bullets may pass in longitudinal direction only.

2. In a bullet handling machine, in combination, a supply hopper for containing a bulk supply of the bullets, and means associated therewith for continuously releasing successive bullets therefrom end to end in the direction of their longitudinal axis, in a plurality of paths, said releasing means including a pair of opposed sets of circumferentially grooved wheels having their peripheral edges in tangential engagement cooperating to form cylindrical openings through ,which the bullets may pass in a longitudinal diwith for continuously releasing successive: bullets therefrom end to end in: the" direction of their longitudinal aXis,. in a. plurality of pathsrsaid: re;-

leasing means, including: a pair of opposed sets of circumferentially grooved wheels having their peripheral edges in tangential engagement cooperating to form. cylindrical openings through which the bullets may pass in a longitudinal .direction only, said wheels being rotatedvin a direction. opposite to the travel of the bullets there,-. between, and a. plurality of spaced eccentric-disks, carried by said wheel for agitating the massof bullets in the hopper and for guiding them into said openings. 1

4. Ina bullet handling. machine, in combina-. tion, a supply hopper for containing a bulk supply of the bullets, and means associated therewith for continuously releasing successive, bullets theretrom end to end in the direction of their longitudinal axis, in a plurality of paths, said releasing means including a pair of opposed sets of circumferentially grooved wheels having their peripheral edges in tangential engagement cooperating to form cylindrical openings through which the bullets may pass in a longitudinal direction only, said wheels being rotated in a direction opposite to the travel of the bullets therebetween, and a plurality of spaced eccentric disks carried by said wheels for agitating the mass of bullets in the hopper and for guiding them into said openings, one set of said wheels being provided with spring members arranged to yieldingly engage improperly positioned bullets at the mouth of said openings and to clear the openings for subsequent properly positioned bullets to pass through.

5. In a bullet handling machine, in combination, a supply hopper for containing a bulk supply of the bullets, and means associated therewith for continuously releasing successive bullets therefrom end to end in the direction of their longitudinal axis, in a plurality of paths, said releasing means including a pair of opposed sets of circumferentially grooved wheels having'their peripheral edges in tangential engagement cooperating to form cylindrical openings through which the bullets may pass in a longitudinal direction only, said wheels being rotated in a direction opposite to the travel of the bullets therebetween.

6. In a bulllet handling machine, in combination, a supply hopper for containing a bulk supply of the bullets, and means associated therewith for continuously releasing successive bullets therefrom end to end in the direction of their Iongitudinal axis, said releasing means including a pair of circumferentially grooved wheels having their peripheral edges in tangential engagement cooperating to form openings through which the bullets may pass in longitudinal direction only, and means for guiding said bullets as they pass through said openings topresent the bullets in a substantial horizontal position.

rection only, and a guide member cooperating with the peripheral grooves of one set of wheels 8. In a bullet handling machine, in combination, a supply hopper for containing a bulk supply of the bullets, and means associated therewith for continuously releasing successive bullets therefrom end to end in the direction of their longitudinal axis, in a plurality of paths, said releasing means including a pair of opposed sets of circumferentially grooved wheels having their peripheral edges in tangential engagement cooperating to form cylindrical openings through which the bullets may pass in a longitudinal direction only, and a guide member cooperating with the peripheral grooves of one set of wheels to guide said bullets from a substantially vertical position as they pass through said openings to a substantially horizontal position, said guide memher being mounted to permit a relatively quick release thereof in the event of a jam between said wheels.

9. In a bullet handling machine, in combination, a supply hopper for containing a. bulk supply of the bullets, and means associated therewith for continuously releasing sucessive bullets therefrom endto' end in the direction of their longitudinal axis, in a plurality of paths, said releasing means including a pair of opposed sets of circumferentially grooved wheels having their peripheral edges in tangential engagement cooperating to form cylindrical openings through which the bullets may pass in a longitudinal di-- rection only, one of said wheels being mounted to permit axial adjustment thereof to accurately position the opposed wheels with relation to each other.

ROBERT WILLIAM VERGOBBI. 

